Polylactylic acid resins and process for making them



Patented Sept. 21, 1948 OFFICE POLYLAGTYLIC ACID RESINS AND PROCESS FOR MAKING THEM Paul D. Watson, Arlington, Va., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture No Drawing. Original application May 27, 1944,

Serial No. 537,663.

Divided and this application June 8, 1945, Serial No. 598,359

(Cl. 260-18) I (Granted under the act 01' March 3, 1883, as

6 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described and claimed, it patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of payment to me of any royalty thereon.

herein by reference.

to the process of making them.

adhesion and flexibility.

by their use in industry.

melamine-formaldehyde resin.

invention, and all parts are given by weight.

2 r The apparatus employed in each of these examples comprised an open vessel equipped with an eflicient stirrer and means for the introduction of an inert gas, such as nitrogen, which was bubbled ized olefinic hydrocarbons (petropols) derived The coating solution was adjusted to about a 25 It was also re- This coating composition Thirty parts of cycloparafiin (naphthene) hythrough the mixture in each instance. America gwemmental Pumses with the Example 1.Modiflcation with polymeric olefinic This application is a division of my copending hydrocarbons application Serial No. 537,663, filed May 1944. v One hundred twenty parts of polylactylic acids now Patent No. 2,43 ,7 which was in turn a and 25 parts of castor oil were placed in the apcontinuation n p rt of my ppli serial paratus referred to above and heated for 90 min- 441336, filed April 30. 1942, which r sult n the ,utes while the temperature was gradually raised issuance of Patent No. 2, ,103 on November 21, from 105 C. to 228 C. Then 25 parts of linseed 1 he i l r of Which is incorporated oil were added, followed by 2 parts of activated bauxite. After holding at about 228? C. for 25 This invention relates to improvements in coatminutes, 5 parts of maleic anhydride were added. ing compositions comprising the on nsat followed after minutes with 5 parts of fumaric product or polylac i acids (also k wn 7 acid with the temperature at 236 0. The tempolylactyliactic acids) and fatty drying oils and perature was gradually increased to 255 C. dur

V 20 ing the next 15 minutes, and 20 parts of polymer- The coating compositions of this invention are especially suitable for use as protective finis from cracked petroleum distillates were then on metal food containers and other articles. The dd d, A further description of n- 1 may be baked coatings have an unusually gh degree of .found in Mattiello, Protective and Decorative 1 Coatings, 1941, volume 1, pages 482 to 484. The Dueto present war conditions. there is a shorttemperature was then held at 255 C. to 260 C. a e in the su y o t and othe ate al such for 40 minutes, and then-raised to 266 c. to 269 as phthalic anhydri e an lycerol commonly C. for 25 minutes, when the viscosity suddenly inused in large quantities in th manufac of creased. The resin was rapidly cooled and xylol flexible coatings. Since the co t of t nwas added to the hot resin while being stirred in vention are derived from other sources. an alleord r to eflect ti viation of the present situation may be attained resin content, and metallic naphthenate driers The present invention is directed generally to added as follows; the percentage indicating the and an object thereof comprises e m weight of metal added to the resin: Cobalt 0.05%: tion of the processor making th r sin by h manganese 0.05%: zinc 0.10%. This coating was dition of certain other resinous comp n which tested by baking two coats on steel at 205 C., the improvethe chemical resistance of the coatings first for 20 i t a d th d for i prin i y the resistance of the coatings to utes. The coating had good resistance to steam kalies). The hard ss. drying and baking P 40 and fair resistance to alkali. erties of the coatings are in certain instances likei tant t gasoline a d oil, whe hill d t 16 wise imp oved- I hav d ove a se 1111- C. (20 minutes bake at 205 C.), the coating did proved properties may be induced in the polylact become b itt tynea ty yin oil co d sat on product co yielded films which set within a few minutes and taining about 35 to 70% polylactylic aciacii and 20 dried in th 1 lb he d ition of a o fl g i e t oi irf or ntore of the fol Example ZFMMmCGtwZZwZth golymenzed cyclo' lowing polymeric materials: Polymerized olefinic pammn hy mcar hydrocarbons: polymerized cycloparaflin (naphthene) hydrocarbons; oil-soluble phenol-formdrocarbon polymers derived from coke oven disaldehyde resin such as butyl, amyl, hexyLphenyl. tillates were heated together with parts of naphthyl, and diphenyl phenol-formaldehyde; conjugated linseed oil, and xylol was added to aid in solution. When dissolved, the solution was The following examples are illustrative of this introduced into the apparatus referred to, which contained parts of polylactylic acids at a term perature of 100 C. The temperature was gradually raised to 275 C. during a period of 85 minutes and held at 275 C. to 280 C. for 65 minutes. The temperature was increased to 300 C. during the next minutes when the resin began to gel. It was cooled rapidly, and xylol added while the hot resin was stirred. The resin dissolved very slowly, and complete solution was effected by the addition of some methyl n-amyl ketone to the xylol mixture.

The resin solution was adjusted to about solids content and metallic naphthenate driers added as follows, the percentage indicating the weight of metal added to the resin; 0.03% cobalt; 0.03% manganese; 0.12% zinc. Three coats were baked on steel at 205 C., the first for minutes, the second for 30 minutes, and the third for 55 minutes. The resistance of this coating was excellent when tested in 1% sodium hydroxide and also had fair resistance to steam. The coating was also resistant to 50% sulphuric acid, 50% acetic and to concentrated hydrochloric acid. This coating also set within a few minutes and dried in the air.

In my process it is advisable to eifect ester interchange first by heating the components at a relatively low temperature (below 250 C.) before increasing the temperature in order to induce molecular polymerization. Castor oil can be reacted directly with the polylactylic acids without first forming the free fatty acids or monoglycerides. I have found that this facilitates the subsequentincorporation of non-hydroxylated oils such as linseed or soybean oils, and thereby short- .ens the heating time necessary for the preparation of the resin.. Dehydration of the castor oil is carried out simultaneously with its condensation with the polylactylic acids, and other polymeric substances.

Particularly rapid combination of fatty oils with polylactylic acids is'eifected by using conjugated linseed oil, or a mixture of hydroxylated and conjugated linseed oils. The slower reaction and lower yields obtained when oils such as straight linseed or soya bean oil are used is evidently due-to the increased period of heating required for the non-conjugated fatty acid chains to rearrange to a conjugated form.

It might be expected that the oleflnic and naphthenic polymers would be incompatible with the I polyester type of polymer formed from polylactylic acid and fatty oils. However, I have discovered that these hydrocarbon polymers may be incorporated with the polyester resin by adding .themrirrthe latter stages of the heating process,

and then raising the temperature to about 270 C.

, to 300 C. The mixture is then heated until an advanced stage of resinification short of becoming insoluble and infusible is reached.

It is obvious that polymeric hydrocarbons cannot combine with a polyester type of polymer by means of interesterification, and it is apparent that modification is effected chiefly by, a conjoint polymerization, except for some degree of copolymerization which is likely to occur, especially in the case of olefinic hydrocarbons, due to their considerable degree of unsaturation, and because of some decomposition of the naphthenic hydrocarbons at the high temperature (above 275 C.) used. I

The removal of water and other volatile prodiii ucts produced during the heating process may be I facilitated by the use of a low degree of vacuum in the reaction vessel. The introduction of an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen also the resin, and the color of the final product will be darkened to only a moderate degree. The average coating is a golden yellow color when baked on light surfaces. These petroleum derivative polymers sell for only a few cents per pound, and their inclusion in the resin results in some reduction in the cost of the coating.

The ingredients, catalysts, and polymerization conditions for the production of a resin having certain desired properties can be determined readily by experiment. For instance, my. resins may be. prepared without the use of a catalyst. However, the addition of a condensation or polymerization catalyst appears to confer certain advantages such as a more rapid polymerization and an increase in the hardness and insolubility of the product. Suitable catalysts for thlspurpose are: Salts and oxides of cobalt, aluminum, aluminum oxide, vanadium, pentoxide, ferric oxide, bauxite, magnesium methoxide, ferrous lactate. Near the end of the polymerization process when the reaction mixture has started to show a rapid increase in viscosity, ii the reaction is interrwpted by quick cooling, the resin will not have reached the infusible and insoluble stage and is particularly suitable for the preparation of liquid coatings, mixing with fillers, pigments and the like for the preparation of molded articles. The exact point at which the reaction should be interrupted depends upon the ultimate use of the product, and will vary with the temperature, the

proportions of reactants and the catalyst used.

It can be determined by making preliminary tests for any given set of conditions, and can thereafter be ascertained by means of careful timing and observation of the changes in viscosity.

The yield of resinous products generally obtained ranges from about 65 to :percent, depending upon several factors such as the time and temperature reuuired to eifect resinification, which varies with difieren't formulations. The use of modifieddrying oils, for example, conjugated and hydroxylated linseed oils, tends to obtained in the straight condensation of polylactylic acid with fatty oils made by means of the boiling point and melting point methods indicated that the average molecular weight was about 1200 to 1400. Of course, this figure will vary somewhat, depending on the particular procedure used in preparing the resin. The molecular weight of the final tbaked coating, cannot be accurately determined because of their insoluble and infusible nature. However, from their eucolloidal properties, it may be inferred to be at least of the order of 10,000.

Coatings may be prepared by dissolving the resin in ketones, toluol, xylol and synthetic petroleum products with solvency characteristic comparable to these.

The baked coatings of this invention are resistant to the action of salt water, gasoline, lubricating oil, and to many of the common solvents. They are also resistant to acids in moderate concentration. However, due to the ester-like nature of this resin, it may be susceptible to attack by alkalies. and the modifications described herein are directed mainly to improve the coatings in this respect.

The flexibility, hardness, and resistance of these coatings to various agents may be varied somewhat by the use of different proportions and mixtures of the fatty oils. The proportion of fatty oil used in the formulations should be at least 20 percent of the weight of the ingredients in order to insure adequate flexibility in the baked coatings. The properties of the coatings are also influenced by the choice and amount of modifying agents, driers, etc., used. For instance, the use of a zinc drier in conjunction with other metallic driers increases the resistance to alkali. but may decrease the resistance to steam. Then, too, a thin coating will bake more rapidly, be harder and more resistant to the action of steam than a thick coating. 1

V For many purposes, the durability and appearance of the resinous product is enhanced by the addition of pigments. The usual types of pigment may be incorporated, although chemically inert, heat stable ones are preferred, such as titanium dioxide, carbon black, iron oxides, and earth colors.

My invention also'comprises water emulsion coatings. which may be prepared by dispersing the liquid resin in water. As an aid in forming the emulsion, fatty acids and an amine such as ethylene diamine may be added. The emulsion may be stabilized by the addition of bentonite or a vegetable protein, and metallic driers may also be added during the formulation.

It is to be understood further that gaskets.

tubes, extruded products, and other flexible articles are within the scope of this invention. These may be prepared by the incorpartion of driers, fillers, and curing agents in the resin and heating moderately. preferably at temperatures below about 125 C.

My invention includes also the use of the polymeric product in the impregnating, gluing, and molding of various articles, such as laminated paper, wood and metal products. The use of elevated temperatures and high pressures in the formation of these compositions is familiar to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A process for preparing a resinous material comprising heating at polymerizing temperatures a mixture of between 35 and 70% polylactylic acids, between 20 and fatty, drying oils, and between 10 and 15% of oil-soluble petropols, said percentages being based on the total weight of the ingredients, said heating being eifectedunder conditions permitting the removal of volatile products of reaction until a viscous, elastic, resinous product is formed.

2. A process for preparing a resinous material comprising heating at polymerizing temperatures a mixture of between 35 and polylactylic acids, between 20 and 50% fatty, drying oils, substantially 5% of a member selected from the group consisting of iumaric acid, maleic anhydride, and mixtures of i'umaric acid and maleic anhydride and between 10 and 15% of oil-soluble petropols, said percentages being based on the total weight of the ingredients, said heating being affected under conditions permitting the removal of volatile products of reaction until a viscous, elastic, resinous product is formed.

3. The process Of claim 2 wherein the heating is efl'ected in the presence of a polymerization catalyst.

t. The process of claim 2 wherein the heating is effected in the absence of any appreciable amount of oxygen.

5. A resinous material produced by the process of claim 1.

6. An aqueous emulsion of the resinous material produced by the process oi claim 1.

@AUL U. WATSON. 

